Discharge nozzle for ink marking device

ABSTRACT

A marking device includes a container filled with a marking fluid and having a neck portion with a bore, a tubular ball-type nozzle positioned in said bore, said ball-type nozzle having a ball seat, a spring mounted in said nozzle and a ball normally urged by said spring against a nozzle seat to act as a valve for the flow of fluid from the container. An over-cap (discharge nozzle) which fits on the ball-type nozzle has a bushing wall portion forming a first chamber, an enclosing wall portion forming a second chamber, a front wall portion having a spur projecting inwardly toward said ball and adapted to urge said ball from its seat, and an orifice within the front wall and offset from the spur. The over-cap is removably positioned on the ball type nozzle so that its internal spur selectively unseats the ball to permit free flow of the ink.

United States Patent [191 Sussman et al.

[75] Inventors: Philip S. Sussman, Orlando; Francis W. Andrews, Clarcona, both of Fla.

[73] Assignee: Mark-Tex Corporation, Englewood, I

NJ. 221 Filedt Nov. 30, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 310,988

[52] U.S. Cl. 401/265, 401/190 [51] Int. Cl. .Q. B43k 1/04 [58] Field of Search. ZZZ/402.14, 402.25, 519-525,

4/1961 Great Britain; 401/190 M M /111i 1 Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorney, Agent, 0r Firm-Eliot S. Gerber [5 7] ABSTRACT A marking device includes a container filled with a marking fluid and having a neck portion with a bore, a tubular ba1l-type nozzle positioned in said bore, said ball-type nozzle having a ball seat, a spring mounted in said nozzle and a ball normally urged by said spring against a nozzle seat to act as a valve for the flow of fluid from the container. An overrcap (discharge nozzle) which tits on the ball-type nozzle has abushing wall portion forming a first chamber, an enclosing wall portion forming a second chamber, a front wall portion having a spur projecting inwardly toward said ball and adapted to urge said ball from its seat, and an orifree within the front wall and-offset from thespur.

18 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION At the present time it is known to draw or paint on textile material, called ball point embroidery," using an ink filled marking device having a spring-loaded ball which acts as a valve. In one type of marking device the container is an ink filled tube having a neck portion with a valve-type nozzle screw fitted in the bore of the neck portion. Thevalve-type nozzle contains a spring and a valve means and the valve-type nozzle forms, at its outer end, an internal seat for the valve means. The valve means may be a ball, in which case the valve-type nozzle is a ball-type nozzle, or it may be a cylinder having a rounded end. The rounded end serves as the writing tip. In addition, the spring and valve means may be formed as an integral one-piece member from plastic resin. Although the description refers to a ball, the

valve means.

For certain drawing and marking purposes,-it would be desirable to have the ink flow freely and at a predetermined controlled rate without pressing the ball against the textile material. For example, it may be desired to blend colors, say, if brown ink is first applied to an area and then it is desired to blend yellow ink over the still-wet brown ink. f

The present method of obtaining a free flow of ink is to unscrew the ball-type nozzle and replace it by screwing in a nozzle having a thin tunnel (bore) therethrough. The open hole gives the required free flow of ink. When it is desired to close the container, or to change to the regular ball-type nozzle, it is necessary to unscrew the open bore nozzle and replace it with the original ball-type nozzle. This procedure is timeand readily transferred from one marking device to another.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such a discharge nozzle which may operate the ball valve only when pressure is applied to the discharge nozzle or alternatively may be located in the present invention includes other types of spring-loaded consuming and messy. Frequentlyink spills orgets on mit any control over the rate of flow of the ink, such rate of flow control beingdesirable in many instances.

SUMMARY'OF THE INVENTION A dispensing nozzle (overcap) is provided which tits on the ball-type nozzle of an ink container. The front wall of the dispensing nozzle has an orifice and an inwardly projecting spur, which. is offset from the orifice.

In one embodiment the dispensing nozzle has, as part of the internal wall of its bore, two flat faces (flats) which may be matched or unmatched with corresponding flats on the ball-type nozzle. When the flats are matched, the ink flows only when pressure is applied on the front face of the dispensing nozzle. When the flats are not matched then ink will flow freely. In another embodiment the dispensing nozzle may be screwed onto the neck of the ink container. I

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an overcap, Le, a discharge nozzle, for a marking device which, at selected times, may permit a free flow of ink from the marking device.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such a discharge nozzle which may be easily ball-type nozzle to obtain a free flow of ink.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such a discharge nozzle in which the flow of ink is adjustable depending on the position of the discharge nozzle.

It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide such a discharge nozzle which will loosely fit on the normally closed dispensing nozzle but which, under writing pressure, will cause a flow of the ink.

It is, consequently, a feature of the present invention that a dispensing nozzle (an overcap) is adapted to provide a continuous flow of ink from a marking device, the marking device including an ink container, a valve means such as a ballas a. valve, a spring loading the .valve means and a valve means type nozzle containing and seating the valve means. The dispensing nozzle includes a wall portion formed as a bushing and an enclosing wall portion connected to said bushing wall portion at one of its ends and having an internal bore, with the bore wall at least partly conforming in shape to the outer surface of the ball-type nozzle. A v third end wall portion partly closes the bore. The: end wall portion has an inwardly projecting spur adapted to fit through the orifice of said ball-type nozzle and push against that ball and also has an orifice offset from the spur to permit outward flow of ink.

Further features of the present invention are thatthe dispensing nozzle is formed as a one-piece integral member, preferably of injection-molded plastic resin. In one embodiment of the present invention the internal surface of the enclosing wall portion of the 'dispensing nozzle is screw-threaded so that it is adapted to screw with a selectable degree of tightness on a screwthreaded neck of a container, the degree of tightness controlling the extent to which the spur pushes the ball.

In that embodiment an outwardly directed flange is connected to the enclosing wall portion at its end opposite said end wall portion.

It is a further feature of the present invention that the internal surface (wall) of the enclosing wall portion, in the various embodiments, includes two flats and two rounded portions connecting the flats. Preferably the center of the bushing wall portion and the enclosing wall portion and the center of the spur lie along acornmon axis and the flats are on opposite sides of that axis and are at equal acute angles relative thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objectives of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following detailed description setting forth the inventors best mode of practicing the invention, the description being taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the discharge nozzle of the present invention; a

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the discharge nozzle of FIG. 1; i

FIG. 3 is a bottom planview of the nozzle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the discharge nozzle of FIG. 1 positioned on a marking device so as to provide free flow of ink;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a discharge nozzle, which embodiment is adapted to screw onto the threaded neck of a container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing nozzle (overcap) of the first embodiment of the present invention consists of an integral one-piece member, preferably formed from a suitable plastic resin. For example, the dispensing nozzle 10 may be formed by injection molding high molecular weight linear polyethylene. The dispensing nozzle 10 includes a first wall portion 11 which is shaped like a bushing and in cross-section is a ring. Its outer diameter and inner diameter, preferably respectively one-half inch and 0.385 inch, provide sufficient thickness so that the wall will be resilient.

The first wall portion 11 blends into an integral enclosing wall portion 12 which has external inwardly tapering walls forming a hollow cone, except for the internal two flat faces 17, 18 (see FIG. 3). Preferably the wall 12 of the cone is not straight but is formed on radii so that the wall isslightly bowed outwardly. The wall portion 12 is partly closed by an integral end (third) wall portion 13. The end wall portion 13 carries an integral inwardly directed spur (projection) 14 in the form of a circular rod. The axis 16 of the rod spur 14 is on the central axis of the dispensing nozzle 10, that is, the same axis which is the center of the bushing first wall portion 11 and the enclosing second wall portion 12.

A round hole orifice 15, preferably having a diameter of 0.035 inch, is offset from the axis 16. Preferably the center of orifice is offset 0.035 inch from the axis.

As shown in FIG. 4, the dispensing nozzle 10 is adapted to removably fit on a marking device 20 in a number of ways described below. The marking device 20 includes a tubular liquid ink container 21 having therein a liquid colored marking ink. For example, the container 21 may be of stiff aluminum and may have a pressure inducing pumping mechanism, at its end opposite its nozzle, to aid in the flow of the liquid ink. The container 21 has an integral neck portion 22 having an internally screw-threaded bore 23 therethrough. A ball-type nozzle 25 having at its bottom portion an external screw thread 26, partially fits into the bore 23, with their screw threads meshing.

The ball-type nozzle includes a tubular body portio 27 having a central bore 28. The body portion 27 has a cone-like outer shape having two flats. A helical coil spring 29 is positioned within bore 28 and is seated on the spring retainer 30. The spring 29 normally urges the ball 31 against the seat 32 internal to the outer end of body portion 27.

The dispensing nozzle (overcap) is positioned on the marking device so that the inner surface of the enclosing wall portion 12v grips the ball-type nozzle body portion 27. There are two operative positions for the dispensing nozzle which are selected by a placement or rotation of the dispensing nozzle relative to the container. These operative positions are, first, a continuous flow position and, secondly, an automatic start and stop position.

In the continuous flow position the internal flats 17, 18 of the dispensing nozzle are mis-matched with the flats on the body portion 27 of the ball-type nozzle; in other words, the flats 17, 18 grip the rounded part of body portion 27. This provides a sufficiently tight grip so that the spur 14 pushes and retains the ball 31 away from its seat 32, permitting continuous flow of the liquid ink from container 21.

In the automatic start and stop operation the dispensing nozzle 10 is rotated or taken off and again placed back on, so that the flats 17, 18 are matched with the flats on the ball-type nozzle body portion 27. The ink acts as a lubricant and a sticky type of partial adhesive so that the dispensing nozzle 10 freely rides up and down on the ball-type nozzle and yet does not fall off. When the end wall portion 13 of the dispensing nozzle 10 is placed against the surface to be inked, for example, atextile material, the pressure on the end wall portion 13 will force the spur 14 against the ball 31 and unseat it, permitting ink to flow, with the amount of ink flow depending upon the pressure. When the end wall portion 13 is lifted off the surface, the spring 29'will reseat the ball 31, close off ink flow, and push thedispen sing nozzle 10 outwardly; however, the sticky ink will prevent the dispensing nozzle 10 from falling off the container. 7 i

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. This embodiment is similar in many respects with the prior described embodiment but is adapted for use with containers having an external screw thread on its neck portion. The dispensing nozzle 40 of FIG. 5 provides only an adjustable continuous flow operation when it is screwed down, so that its spur 14a pushes the ball inwardly, and does not provide an automatic start and stop operation. The amount of ink flow is controlled by how far the dispensing nozzle 40 is screwed onto the neck. The dispensing nozzle 40 includes an end wall portion 13a, an orifice 15a, a conelike enclosing second wall portion 12a having internal flats, and a bushing-like first wall portion 110. The internal wall of the bushing wall portion 11a is internally screw-threaded and an outwardly directed circular flange (tab) 41 is connected to the bottom of the first wall portion 1 1a. An internal thin-walled ring 42-, which is free at its bottom end and connected to the internal face of wall 12a at its top, is used as a seal which seals against the ball-type nozzle. V

The present invention has provided a dispensernozzle (overcap) which provides numerous advantages compared to the previous methods of permitting an ink flow using a ball-type nozzle ink container. These advantages are that the dispensing nozzle of the present invention may be positioned directly over the ball-type nozzle without the necessity of removing the ball-type nozzle, which removal may require special tools and may be messy. The dispensing nozzle fits over the regular ball-type nozzle without great effort and in one of two selected positions. In one of the selected positions, in which the internal flats on the dispensing nozzle grip the rounded portion of the balltype nozzle, the ink will flow continuously. In an alternative selected position,

in which the flats internal to the dispensing nozzle are matched and rest upon the flats of the ball-type nozzle, there is provided an automatic start and stop operation in which the control of the flow of the ink is dependent upon the pressure on the front face of the dispensing nozzle.

The dispensing nozzle of the present invention has many uses, particularly in connection with marking ink on textiles or in ball point embroidery. These uses include the following:

1. A wash solution may be obtained by applying the dispensing nozzle to the ball point nozzle to cause the paint to drip from the orifice of the dispensing nozzle into a container to which thinner is subsequently added in order to form a wash solution;

2. A foam painting may be obtained by dripping paint in the desired pattern, such dripping having been accomplished by attaching the dispensing nozzle to the ball point nozzle;

3. The dispensing nozzle may be applied, in turn, to a number of different containers having differently colored inks, so that each of the colors, in turn, are dripped into a container and the different colors stirred .to provide a mixed color;

4. The dispensing nozzle is applied so that continuous ink is permitted to flow from the container, which is then distributed in the desired area and spread over that area to form a large area;

5. A three-dimensional-painting effect may be obtained by using a dotted or continuous built-up pattern using either a drip-or a continuous flow of the ink;

6. A brush painting using a brush or other spreader may be obtained by dripping the paint into the container and adding thinner to obtain ink having the desired thickness for brush application.

In addition, as previously described, the dispensing nozzle may be'used to write directly on the textile surface in which the ball valve is opened or closed, de-

pending upon the pressure on the front face of the dispensing nozzle. Irithis use the width of the line made is determined by the width of the front wall of the dispensing nozzle.

Modifications may be made in the present invention within the scope of the subjoined claims. As an example of such a modification, one or both of the flats may be omitted from the valve-type nozzle and the overcap. In that case the overcap, in one orientation, will fit sufficiently loosely on the valve-type nozzle so that it is able to move in the axial direction. Such axial movement provides a controlled automatic start and stop controlof the ink flow which is dependent upon the axially directed pressure on theovercap, which pressure causes the spur to unseat the valve meanstto a controlled extent. if the overcap is not circular in crosssection, for example, slightly oblong or ellipse shaped in cross-section, then the overcap may be removed and replace, or rotated, to attain a different orientation on which the overcap fits tightly on the valve-type nozzle.

in this second orientation the spur on the overcap unseats the valve means and provides acontinuous flow of liquid. H

As another example of such a modification, two overcaps may be packaged with each container, preferably the two overcaps-being of different colors. One overcap will move axially on the valve-type nozzle to provide a controlled automatic start and stop flow of liquid. The alternative overcap will fit tightly on the valvetype nozzle to provide a continuous flow of liquid.

It will be understood that the spur need not fit through the orifice of the valve-type nozzle to unseat the valve means. But the spur must, in its liquid-flow position, push against the valve means to unseat it from its valve seat.

Although the marking device of the present invention has been described as being an ink marking device, it will be readily appreciated that it may be used with other liquids. For example, it may be used as an applicator of liquid glue or as an applicator of lubricants.

We claim:

1. A dispensing nozzle adapted to provide a flow of liquid from a liquid dispensing device, such as an ink marking device, the said liquid dispensing device including a liquid container, a valve means, a spring loading the valve means and a valve-type nozzle containing and seating the said valve means, the dispensing nozzle including an enclosing wall portion whose internal surface at least partly conforms in shape to the outer surface of said valve-type nozzle, said enclosing wall portion forming a bore therethrough, a front wall portion partly closing said bore, and an inwardly projecting spur connected to and projecting from said front wall, said spur being adapted to push against said valve means to unseat it, an outwardly projecting tubular dispensing member fixed on said front wall and having an orifice offset from said spur to permit outward flow of the liquid through said projecting member.

2. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 1 wherein said valve means is a ball.

3. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 1 and also includ ing a third wall portion formed as a bushing and having an internal bore, said bushing wall portion being connected to said enclosing wall portion at the end of said enclosing wall opposite to said front wall portion.

4. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 3in which the internal surface of the bushing portion is at least partially screw-threaded, whereby it is adapted to screw with a selectable degree of tightness on a screw-threaded neck of said container, said degree of tightness thereby controlling the extent to which said spur pushes said valve means. q

5. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 1 whichis formed as a one-piece integral member;

6. A dispensing nozzle as in claim'5 which is formed of injection-molded plastic resin.

7. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 3 and further ineluding an outwardly directed flange connected to said bushing portion at its end opposite said enclosing wall portion. r 1 i 8. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 1 wherein the internal surface of the enclosing wall portion includes at least one flat. r M it 9. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 8 wherein saidinternal surface consists of two flats and two rounde portions connecting said flats. L

10. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 9 in which the round portions of the enclosing wall portion and the center of the spur lie along a common axis and the said flats are on opposite sides of said axis and at equal acute angles relative thereto.

11. An ink marking device which provides either a continuous flow of ink or a startable and stoppable flow of ink, comprising an ink container to contain ink and having a neck portion having a bore, a valve-type nozzle secured in said bore and projecting outwardly therefrom, said valve-type nozzle having a bore therethrough which terminates in an outer orifice and having a seat on said outer orifice, a spring positioned in said valve type nozzle, a valve means normally urged by said spring against said seat, and an overcap positioned over said valve-type nozzle, said overcap comprising a yond said neck has two flats upon opposite sides of said tubular portion whose internal wall at least partly I matches the exterior wall of said valve-type nozzle, an

end wall having an orifice, and a spur connected to said end wall and projecting inwardly, said spur being sized to push against and unseat said valve means.

12. A marking "defies 5875" E l aini i fwhereifi said valve means is a ball. 1

13. A marking device as in claim 11 wherein the said bore of said valve-type nozzle has a central axis and the i outer wall of the valvetype nozzle which projects beyond said neck has at least one flat rounded portion connected to said flat.

14. A marking device as in claim 13 in which in one selected position .theflat of said overcap is positioned against the flat on said nozzle to permit ink flow only 1 upon movement of said overcap and in another se-; lected position the flat of said overcap grips the' rounded portion of said nozzle to provide a continuous i "is; A 'iiiZilEi'iig 'aev'ia 'a ri. EliriTiTyEFiiTsZiT flow of ink.

spur is sufficiently small so that its free end fits through E the orifice of said valve-type nozzle.

17. A marking device as in claim 11' and further including a second overcap used alternatively with said first overcap, said second overcap comprising a tubular portion whose internal wall at least partly matches the exterior wall of said valve-type nozzle, an end wall having an orifice, and a spur connected to said end wall and projecting inwardly, said spur being sized to push against and unseat said valve means, wherein the tubular portion of said second overcap fits tightly on said.

exterior wall to provide a continuous flow of ink and the tubular portion of said other overcap fits loosely on said exterior wall to provide an automatic stop ;and start flow of ink, 18. A liquid dispensing device, such as an ink mark- 5 k ing device, which provides either a continuous flow of l liquid or a startable and stoppable flow of liquid, com- 1 prising a liquid container to contain liquid and having a neck portion having a bore, a valve-type nozzle secured in said bore and projecting outwardly therefrom, said valve-type nozzle having a bore therethrough which terminates in an outer orifice and having a seat on said outer orifice, a spring positioned in said valvetype nozzle, a valve means normally urged by said spring against said seat,.and a first overcap to be positioned over said valve-type nozzle, said first overcap comprising a tubular portion whose internal wall at least partly matches and tightly grips the exterior wall of said valve-type nozzle, an end wall having an orifice, and a spur connected to said endwall and projecting inwardly, said spur being sized to push against and unseat said valve means, thereby providing a continuous 5 flow of liquid; a second overcap used alternatively to said first overcap to be positioned on said valve-type nozzle, said second overcap comprising a tubular portion whose internal wall at least partly matches the exterior wall of said valve-type nozzle and which may slide axially on said exterior wall, an end wall having an orifice, and a spur connected to said end wall and pro jecting inwardly, said spur being sized to'push against i and unseat said valve means; wherein the tubular portion of said second overcap fits loosely on said exterior wall to provide an automatic stop and start flow of liquid. 

1. A dispensing nozzle adapted to provide a flow of liquid from a liquid dispensing device, such as an ink marking device, the said liquid dispensing device including a liquid container, a valve means, a spring loading the valve means and a valve-type nozzle containing and seating the said valve means, the dispensing nozzle including an enclosing wall portion whose internal surface at least partly conforms in shape to the outer surface of said valve-type nozzle, said enclosing wall portion forming a bore therethrough, a front wall portion partly closing said bore, and an inwardly projecting spur connected to and projecting from said front wall, said spur being adapted to push against said valve means to unseat it, an outwardly projecting tubular dispensing member fixed on said front wall and having an orifice offset from said spur to permit outward flow of the liquid through said projecting member.
 2. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 1 wherein said valve means is a ball.
 3. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 1 and also including a third wall portion formed as a bushing and having an internal bore, said bushing wall portion being connected to said enclosing wall portion at the end of said enclosing wall opposite to said front wall portion.
 4. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 3 in which the internal surface of the bushing portion is at least partially screw-threaded, whereby it is adapted to screw with a selectable degree of tightness on a screw-threaded neck of said container, said degreE of tightness thereby controlling the extent to which said spur pushes said valve means.
 5. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 1 which is formed as a one-piece integral member.
 6. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 5 which is formed of injection-molded plastic resin.
 7. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 3 and further including an outwardly directed flange connected to said bushing portion at its end opposite said enclosing wall portion.
 8. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 1 wherein the internal surface of the enclosing wall portion includes at least one flat.
 9. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 8 wherein said internal surface consists of two flats and two rounded portions connecting said flats.
 10. A dispensing nozzle as in claim 9 in which the round portions of the enclosing wall portion and the center of the spur lie along a common axis and the said flats are on opposite sides of said axis and at equal acute angles relative thereto.
 11. An ink marking device which provides either a continuous flow of ink or a startable and stoppable flow of ink, comprising an ink container to contain ink and having a neck portion having a bore, a valve-type nozzle secured in said bore and projecting outwardly therefrom, said valve-type nozzle having a bore therethrough which terminates in an outer orifice and having a seat on said outer orifice, a spring positioned in said valve-type nozzle, a valve means normally urged by said spring against said seat, and an overcap positioned over said valve-type nozzle, said overcap comprising a tubular portion whose internal wall at least partly matches the exterior wall of said valve-type nozzle, an end wall having an orifice, and a spur connected to said end wall and projecting inwardly, said spur being sized to push against and unseat said valve means.
 12. A marking device as in claim 11 wherein said valve means is a ball.
 13. A marking device as in claim 11 wherein the said bore of said valve-type nozzle has a central axis and the outer wall of the valve-type nozzle which projects beyond said neck has at least one flat rounded portion connected to said flat.
 14. A marking device as in claim 13 in which in one selected position the flat of said overcap is positioned against the flat on said nozzle to permit ink flow only upon movement of said overcap and in another selected position the flat of said overcap grips the rounded portion of said nozzle to provide a continuous flow of ink.
 15. A marking device as in claim 14 wherein said spur is sufficiently small so that its free end fits through the orifice of said valve-type nozzle.
 16. A marking device as in claim 11 wherein the said bore of said valve-type nozzle has a central axis and the outer wall of the valve-type nozzle which projects beyond said neck has two flats upon opposite sides of said axis and at acute angles thereto and rounded portions connecting said flats.
 17. A marking device as in claim 11 and further including a second overcap used alternatively with said first overcap, said second overcap comprising a tubular portion whose internal wall at least partly matches the exterior wall of said valve-type nozzle, an end wall having an orifice, and a spur connected to said end wall and projecting inwardly, said spur being sized to push against and unseat said valve means, wherein the tubular portion of said other overcap fits loosely on said exterior wall to provide an automatic stop and start flow of ink.
 18. A liquid dispensing device, such as an ink marking device, which provides either a continuous flow of liquid or a startable and stoppable flow of liquid, comprising a liquid container to contain liquid and having a neck portion having a bore, a valve-type nozzle secured in said bore and projecting outwardly therefrom, said valve-type nozzle having a bore therethrough which terminates in an outer orifice and having a seat on said outer orifice, a spring positioned in said valve-type nozzle, a valve means normally urged by said spring against saId seat, and a first overcap to be positioned over said valve-type nozzle, said first overcap comprising a tubular portion whose internal wall at least partly matches and tightly grips the exterior wall of said valve-type nozzle, an end wall having an orifice, and a spur connected to said end wall and projecting inwardly, said spur being sized to push against and unseat said valve means, thereby providing a continuous flow of liquid; a second overcap used alternatively to said first overcap to be positioned on said valve-type nozzle, said second overcap comprising a tubular portion whose internal wall at least partly matches the exterior wall of said valve-type nozzle and which may slide axially on said exterior wall, an end wall having an orifice, and a spur connected to said end wall and projecting inwardly, said spur being sized to push against and unseat said valve means; wherein the tubular portion of said second overcap fits loosely on said exterior wall to provide an automatic stop and start flow of liquid. 